Mobile device positioning responsive to externally generated regional candidate position fix mode selection

ABSTRACT

Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented for use by a mobile device to affect at least one positioning function based, at least in part, on a recommended candidate position fix mode received from another electronic device for use in a particular region of an environment. For example, a mobile device may obtain assistance data indicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable by the mobile device, and in response to a determination that the mobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of the partial region, affect a wireless signal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on the candidate position fix mode.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electronic devices, andmore particularly to methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacturefor use by a mobile device to affect at least one positioning functionbased, at least in part, on a recommended candidate position fix modereceived from another electronic device for use in a particular regionof an environment.

2. Information

The global positioning system (GPS) and other like satellite positioningsystems (SPSs) have enabled positioning and navigation services formobile devices in outdoor environments. Since satellite signals may notbe reliably received and hence acquired in an indoor environment,different wireless signal-based positioning techniques may be employedto enable navigation services. For example, mobile devices may seek toobtain a position fix by estimating ranges to one or moreterrestrial-based wireless network access point devices, which arepositioned at known locations, based on one or more wireless signalsacquired from and/or exchanged with the transmitting devices. Suchranges may be measured, for example, by obtaining a MAC ID address orother like information that may be used to identify a location of thetransmitting device from wireless signals acquired from suchtransmitting devices, and measuring one or more characteristics of thewireless signals, such as, for example, a received signal strength(RSSI), a round trip time (RTT), just to name a few examples, which mayused to estimate a distance to a transmitting device.

In certain instances, a positioning function within a mobile device mayprocess certain measurements obtained while the mobile device is in oneparticular environment differently than for other measurements obtainedwhile the mobile device was in a different environment. As such, it maybe useful for a mobile device to know the type of environment it may belocated in, e.g., indoor versus outdoor. Furthermore, as may beappreciated, there may be different types of indoor environments, suchas, e.g., shielded versus unshielded, multi-level versus single-level,etc., which may correspond to different signaling, measurements,processes, etc. Likewise, there may be different types of outdoorenvironments, such as, e.g., outdoor environments served by a global SPS(GNSS), outdoor environments that may be served by a global SPS and alsoa regional SPS (e.g., China's Beidou regional system, the IndianRegional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), etc.).

However, as may be appreciated, it may be difficult at times for amobile device to determine how or when to attempt to perform certainsignal-based positioning techniques.

SUMMARY

In accordance with certain aspects, a method may be provided for usewith a mobile device which comprises: obtaining assistance data from atleast one other electronic device, the assistance data being indicativeof a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environmentnavigable by the mobile device, the candidate position fix mode beingselected from a plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modescomprising at least: a first wireless signal-based positioning modebased on first wireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-basedtransmitting device, a second wireless signal-based positioning modebased on a second wireless signals transmitted a satellite-basedtransmitting device, and a third wireless signal-based positioning modebased on a combination of the first wireless signals and the secondwireless signals. Such a method further comprises affecting a wirelesssignal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on thecandidate position fix mode, in response to a determination that themobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity ofthe partial region.

In accordance with certain other aspects, a mobile device may beprovided which comprises a communications transceiver and a processingunit. Here, for example, a processing unit may: obtain, via thecommunications transceiver, assistance data indicative of a candidateposition fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable bythe mobile device, the candidate position fix mode being selected from aplurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes comprising atleast: a first wireless signal-based positioning mode based on firstwireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device,a second wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a secondwireless signals transmitted a satellite-based transmitting device, anda third wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination ofthe first wireless signals and the second wireless signals; and inresponse to a determination that the mobile device is estimated to belocated within a threshold proximity of the partial region, affect apositioning function based, at least in part, on the candidate positionfix mode.

In accordance with yet another aspect apparatus may be provided for usein a mobile device. Here, for example, the apparatus may comprise: meansfor accessing assistance data indicative of a candidate position fixmode for a partial region of an environment navigable by the mobiledevice, the candidate position fix mode being selected from a pluralityof wireless signal-based positioning modes comprising at least: a firstwireless signal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signalstransmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device, a secondwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wirelesssignals transmitted a satellite-based transmitting device, and a thirdwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of thefirst wireless signals and the second wireless signals; and means foraffecting a wireless signal-based positioning function based, at leastin part, on the candidate position fix mode, in response to adetermination that the mobile device is estimated to be located within athreshold proximity of the partial region.

In accordance with still other aspects, an article of manufacture may beprovided which comprises a non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving computer implementable instructions that are executable by aprocessing unit of a mobile device to: obtain assistance data indicativeof a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environmentnavigable by the mobile device, the candidate position fix mode beingselected from a plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modescomprising at least: a first wireless signal-based positioning modebased on first wireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-basedtransmitting device, a second wireless signal-based positioning modebased on a second wireless signals transmitted a satellite-basedtransmitting device, and a third wireless signal-based positioning modebased on a combination of the first wireless signals and the secondwireless signals; and in response to a determination that the mobiledevice is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of thepartial region, affect a wireless signal-based positioning functionbased, at least in part, on the candidate position fix mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects are described with reference tothe following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeparts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an arrangement ofrepresentative electronic devices including a mobile device to receiveand/or otherwise access, and make use of, a recommended candidateposition fix mode corresponding to a particular region of anenvironment, in accordance with an example implementation.

FIG. 2 comprises an example information flow corresponding to a mobiledevice to receive and/or otherwise access, and make use of, arecommended candidate position fix mode, in accordance with an exampleimplementation.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process that mayimplemented within a mobile device to receive and/or otherwise access,and make use, of a recommended candidate position fix mode, inaccordance with an example implementation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain features of anexample electronic device to determine and transmit a recommendedcandidate position fix mode to a mobile device for use in a particularregion of an environment, in accordance with an example implementation.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain features of anexample mobile device to receive and/or otherwise access, and make use,of a recommended candidate position fix mode, in accordance with anexample implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned, a mobile device may attempt to acquire wireless signalsfor use in performing one or more positioning functions. For example, incertain environments, such as some outdoor environments, wirelesssignals from an applicable number of satellite-based transmittingdevices may be acquired and processed to estimate a position fix for themobile device. Unfortunately, in certain environments, such as someindoor environments, a mobile device may be unable to acquire enough orpossibly even any wireless signals from such satellite-basedtransmitting devices, e.g., due to interference, attenuation, etc.Nonetheless, in certain locations, e.g., within an indoor environment, amobile device may be able to acquire wireless signals from an applicablenumber of terrestrial-based transmitting devices to estimate itsposition fix. Since the techniques used by the mobile device to acquireand/or process such wireless signals may vary, it may be useful for amobile device to know in advance which technique to try first.

Furthermore, as may be appreciated, wireless signal propagation andacquisition may not always adhere to traditional indoor and outdoorboundaries. Thus, for example, in certain situations one or morewireless signals transmitted by one or more satellite-based transmittingdevices may be acquired by a mobile device while located in an indoorenvironment. Similarly, for example, in certain situations one or morewireless signals transmitted by one or more terrestrial-basedtransmitting devices may be acquired by a mobile device while located inan outdoor environment.

With this in mind, the present description also considers a thirdgeneral type of environment, namely, a “blended” environment. whereinfor example, un certain instances, at least one wireless signalstransmitted by at least one satellite-based transmitting device and atleast one wireless signal transmitted by at least one terrestrial-basedtransmitting device may be acquired by a mobile device. Hence, all orpart of certain indoor environments may be considered to be blendedenvironments. For example, all or part of a covered stadium (e.g.,having a roof structure that in sufficiently permeable to SPS signals,and being provisioned with terrestrial-based transmitting devices) maybe considered to be a blended environment. In certain instances an areanearby and/or surrounding a boundary between an indoor environment andan adjacent outdoor environment may be considered to be a blendedenvironment. Thus, for example, a blended environment may comprise anarea nearby and/or surrounding an entry/exit portal, a window or otheraperture, certain types or portions of wall(s) or other like object(s),etc.

With this in mind, in an indoor environment or possibly certain blendedenvironments, a mobile device may, at times, be more successful inobtaining a position fix from wireless signals acquired from certainterrestrial-based transmitters, e.g., located within the indoorenvironment. On the other hand, a mobile device in an indoor area and/orcertain blended environments may not be able to reliably acquirewireless signals from a sufficient number of satellite-basedtransmitting devices for obtaining a position fix based solely thereon.In some environments (e.g., certain blended environments, etc.), amobile device may attempt to employ a hybrid positioning technique inwhich the mobile device may combine measurements obtained fromacquisition of one or more wireless signals from one or moresatellite-based transmitting devices with measurements obtained fromacquisition of one or more wireless signals acquired from one or moreterrestrial-based transmitting devices to possibly obtain a positionfix.

The techniques presented herein by way of various examples, may beimplemented via methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture topossibly affect a mobile device in its selection of certain signal-basedpositioning techniques based on one or more externally recommendedcandidate position fix modes corresponding to a particular region of anenvironment that the mobile device may be currently within or possiblywithin in the future.

Attention is drawn to FIG. 1, which is a schematic block diagramillustrating an example arrangement 100 comprising variousrepresentative electronic devices, including a mobile device 102comprising an apparatus 104. As illustrated mobile device 102 is locatedwithin a region 106 of an environment 108. Here, for example, all orpart of region 106, and/or environment 108, may be representative ofvarious types of indoor environments, various types of outdoorenvironments, and/or various types of transitional environments.Accordingly, as used herein the term “environment” is intended torepresent an environment comprising at least an indoor environment.Thus, for example as used herein an “environment” may comprise an indoorenvironment and possibly one or more blended environments and/or outdoorenvironments. Accordingly, for example, as used herein an “environment”may comprise a plurality of regions wherein at least a portion of atleast one of the regions corresponds to at least a portion of an indoorenvironment. Hence, for example, in certain instances an “environment”may comprise a first region that corresponds to at least a portion of anindoor environment, and at least a second region, which may correspondto the same or another portion of the same or another indoorenvironment, all or part of an outdoor environment, all or part of ablended environment, and/or some combination thereof. In yet anotherexample, in certain instances an “environment” may comprise a firstregion that is a blended environment that at least partially correspondsto an indoor environment, and at least one other region that correspondsto the same or another blended environment and/or outdoor environment.

As used herein a “mobile device” may represent any electronic devicethat may be moved about either directly or indirectly by a user and/orsome mechanism within environment 108 and which may communicate with oneor more other devices via one or more wired and/or wirelesscommunication links. Some examples include a cell phone, a smart phone,a computer (e.g., a personal computer such as a laptop computer, tabletcomputer, a wearable computer, etc.), a navigation aid, a trackingdevice, a digital book reader, a gaming device, music and/or videoplayer device, a camera, a machine, a robot, etc.

Arrangement 100 further comprises a plurality of satellite-basedtransmitting devices represented herein by one or more space vehicles(SVs) 112 of one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) 110 capableof transmitting one or more wireless signals 114.

Arrangement 100 further comprises a plurality of terrestrial-basedtransmitting devices represented in one instance by one or more accesspoint devices (APs 122) of one or more wireless communication networks120 capable of transmitting one or more wireless signals 124. In anotherinstance, a plurality of terrestrial-based transmitting devices areillustrated as represented by one or more transmitting devices (TDs) 132of one or more location based service networks 130 capable oftransmitting one or more wireless signals 134. As may be appreciated,mobile device 102 may or may not in certain instances acquire one ormore of wireless signals 114, 124 and/or 134, e.g., depending uponvarious factors relating to environment 108, region 106, mobile device102, one or more of the transmitting devices, etc.

Arrangement 100 further comprises a representative electronic device 140comprising an apparatus 142. Electronic device 140 is intended torepresent one or more computing platforms that communicate, at times,with mobile device 102 via communication link 144. In certain exampleimplementations, communication link 144 is representative of one or morewired and/or wireless communication links that allow apparatus 142 totransmit and provide certain assistance data 146 to mobile device 102.In certain example implementations, communication link 144 isrepresentative of one or more wired and/or wireless communication linksthat allow apparatus 104 to transmit certain information (e.g., arequest for assistance data, feedback information, etc.) to electronicdevice 140.

As such, communication link 144 may represent one or more wired and/orwireless communication networks (e.g., a cellular telephone network, awireless area network, all or part of an intranet and/or the Internet,etc.), one or more applicable communication devices (e.g., a switch, arouter, a data storage device, a wireless transmitting device, anundersea cable facility, etc.), one or more applicable computingplatforms (e.g., a server, a data storage device, etc.), and/or the likeor some combination thereof.

As presented herein, it is assumed that mobile device 102 is capable ofselectively operating in at least one of at least three differentwireless signal-based positioning modes. In certain exampleimplementations, apparatus 104 may affect selection of a wirelesssignal-based positioning mode, e.g., based at least in part, onassistance data 146. In certain example, a particular wirelesssignal-based positioning mode may, at least, affect one or morepositioning functions performed by mobile device 102.

By way of example, in certain implementations, mobile device 102 may becapable of selectively operating in a (first) wireless signal-basedpositioning mode in which mobile device 102 acquires (or attempts toacquire) certain wireless signals (124, 134) transmitted by one or moreterrestrial-based transmitting devices (APs 122, TDs 132). Here, forexample, a terrestrial-based transmitting device may be part of wirelesscommunication network 120 (which may comprise a cellular telephonesystem, etc.), a location based, a location based service network 130(which may comprise a cellular telephone system, etc.), and/or the likeor some combination thereof. In certain implementations, when operatingin a first wireless signal-based positioning mode, mobile device 102 mayalso transmit messages to one or more of the terrestrial-basedtransmitting devices.

Continuing with this example, in certain implementations, mobile device102 may be capable of selectively operating in a (second) wirelesssignal-based positioning mode in which mobile device 102 acquires (orattempts to acquire) certain wireless signals 14 transmitted by one ormore satellite-based transmitting devices (SVs 112). Here, for example,an SV 112 may be part of SPS 110, examples of which may comprise a GNSS(e.g., GPS, Galileo, Glonass, etc.), and/or the like or some combinationthereof.

Again, continuing with this example, in certain implementations, mobiledevice 102 may be capable of selectively operating in a (third) wirelesssignal-based positioning mode in which mobile device 102 acquires (orattempts to acquire) certain wireless signals transmitted by acombination of transmitting devices comprising one or moreterrestrial-based transmitting devices (e.g., as in the example firstwireless signal-based positioning mode), and one or more satellite-basedtransmitting devices (e.g., as in the example second wirelesssignal-based positioning mode). Hence, for example, such a thirdwireless signal-based positioning mode may be referred to as a “hybrid”mode. Here, for example, a hybrid mode may comprise acquiring orattempting to acquire wireless signals (e.g., wireless signal 114 andone or more of wireless signals 124/134) transmitted by the one or moreaccess point devices of one or more wireless communication networksand/or the like, as well as one or more SVs of one or more SPS.

It should be recognized that claimed subject matter is not intended tobe limited to the examples provided herein. Indeed, those skilled in theart will recognize that a variety of different techniques (e.g., timing,ranging, signaling, measuring, etc.) may be employed in one or morepositioning functions performed by mobile device while operating in aparticular wireless signal-based positioning mode. The details of suchpositioning techniques and/or functions, which are known and continue toevolve, are beyond the scope of the present description. Instead, thepresent description is intended to illustrate various techniques bywhich mobile device 102 may, at times, request, receive, and/orotherwise access certain assistance data which is influential to themobile device in selecting and/or otherwise affecting one or morepositioning functions based, at least in part, on a candidate wirelesssignal-based positioning mode as recommended by electronic device 140for possible use within a particular region.

With this in mind, as described in greater detail herein, electronicdevice 140 may be provisioned (e.g., at least in part, by apparatus 142)to recommend certain candidate wireless signal-based positioning modesfor use by mobile device 102 in certain regions. Additionally, mobiledevice 102 may be provisioned (e.g., at least in part, by apparatus 104)to obtain (e.g., request, receive, and/or otherwise access) informationindicative of such a recommended candidate wireless signal-basedpositioning mode, and operatively affect at least one positioningfunction within mobile device 102 based, at least in part, on such acandidate position fix mode. As used herein the term “wirelesssignal-based positioning mode” and its shorter version “position fixmode”, are used interchangeably.

As pointed out above, one way for electronic device 140 to operativelyinfluence a positioning capability of mobile device 102 may be torecommend a “candidate position fix mode” for use by mobile device 102when they mobile device is “within” (e.g., within, at, nearby, possiblyheading towards, possibly heading away from, etc.) a particularidentified region (e.g., region 106) within environment 108 that isnavigable by mobile device 102 (e.g., when carried by a user, attachedto a particular vehicle/machine, etc.). Hence, by way of example, incertain instances, mobile device 102 may obtain assistance dataindicative of one or more candidate position fix modes from electronicdevice 140 and store such information and its memory for possiblesubsequent access. In certain example implementations, if possible itmay be useful for a mobile device to download or otherwise receive andstore certain assistance data in advance of traveling to a particularregion(s), e.g., obtaining one or more candidate position fix modesprior to reaching a particular environment, e.g., an airport terminal, ahospital, an office building, etc.

Electronic device 140 may, for example, be provisioned to identify aparticular region within an indoor environment (e.g., a building) andsuggest a candidate position fix mode that may prove especially usefulto mobile device 102 within the identified region. For example, aparticular region within an interior portion of a building may beidentified in which a “terrestrial” (first) position fix mode (e.g., aWLAN based position fix mode, etc.) may be suggested as a candidateposition fix mode since it may be difficult for mobile device 102 withinthe particular region to acquire wireless signals 114 transmitted bysatellite-based transmitting devices due to the attenuating effects ofthe building's structure, etc. However, in certain other regions of sucha building (e.g., near its periphery, nearby window or entryway, nearbyan aperture, etc.) certain wireless signals 114 transmitted bysatellite-based transmitting devices may be acquired by mobile device102. Thus, a “hybrid” (third) position fix mode may be suggested as acandidate position fix mode since it may be beneficial for mobile device102 within such a region to acquire wireless signals from a combinationof terrestrial-based and satellite-based transmitting devices (e.g. foruse by one or more corresponding hybrid capable positioning function,etc.). Further still, in certain other regions of such a building (e.g.an atrium, a balcony, a rooftop, etc.), a “satellite-based” (second)position fix mode may be suggested as a candidate position fix modesince it may be more beneficial for mobile device within such a regionto acquire wireless signals 114 from satellite-based transmittingdevices, e.g., as opposed to terrestrial-based transmitting deviceswhich may be provisioned for specific use within certain other areaswithin the building.

In certain example implementations, electronic device 140 may determinea candidate position fix mode for use by mobile device 102 based on avariety factors, possibly including one or more factors relating tocertain physical characteristics of the environment, certain signalingcharacteristics within the environment, certain operationalcharacteristics of an applicable transmitting device, certainoperational characteristics of an applicable mobile device, etc.

One or more of such factors/characteristics and/or the like may, forexample, be obtained, modeled, estimated, etc., based on known orpresumed information. For example, certain physical characteristics(e.g., structure features, layout, location, etc.) of an environment maybe based, at least in part, on information in an electronic map, aroutability graph, and/or the like corresponding to at least a portionof the environment, in operating entity for at least a portion of theenvironment, etc., just to name a few examples.

Alternatively or additionally, certain physical characteristics of anenvironment and/or certain signaling characteristics within theenvironment may be based, at least in part, on information gathered byone or more mobile devices while navigating within such an environment.For example, historical navigation observations and/or wirelesssignaling observations from one or more mobile devices may be indicativeof one or more actual and/or inferable physical characteristics within aportion of environment. Indeed, in certain example implementations, acandidate position fix mode and/or one or more regions of environment108 may be determined and/or otherwise selected based, at least in part,on historical navigation observations and/or wireless signalingobservations corresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regardto at least a portion of an environment. For example, historicalnavigation observations may indicate more or less popular routes, etc.,with regard to the movement of mobile devices within a givenenvironment. As such, in certain instances it may be beneficial todetermine one or more regions of such an environment based, at least inpart, on applicable historical navigation observations. In anotherexample, wireless signaling observations may indicate whether certainposition fix mode modes may be of more or less use, e.g., within aparticular portion of an environment, a certain particular period time,etc. As such, in certain instances it may be beneficial to determine oneor more regions in an environment and/or one or more candidate positionfix modes to recommend based, at least in part, on applicable wirelesssignaling observations.

Similarly, for example, certain operational characteristics (e.g.,identification, location, capabilities, etc.) of an applicabletransmitting device may be based, at least in part, on information inone or more device and/or network design documents, information obtainedfrom by such applicable transmitting device itself or some otherelectronic device, information from service provider, etc., just to namea few examples. Additionally, certain operational characteristics of anapplicable transmitting device and/or certain signaling characteristicswithin the environment may be based, at least in part, on information(e.g., various signal related measurements, various time and/or distancemeasurements, etc.) gathered by one or more mobile devices which mayhave acquired or attempted to acquire wireless signals from thetransmitting device.

Also similarly, for example, certain operational characteristics (e.g.,identification, capabilities, user account, preferences, gatheredhistorical data, etc.) of mobile device 102 may be based, at least inpart, on information in one or more device and/or network designdocuments, information obtained from mobile device 102 itself or someother electronic device, information from a service provider,information from an account user, etc., just to name a few examples.

As mentioned, electronic device 140 may be provisioned to selectivelytransmit information (e.g., via communication link 144) is indicative ofat least one candidate position fix mode to mobile device 102, possiblyas part of some predetermined/advanced download, possibly in response toa request for such information, and/or possibly in response to someschedule, update cycle, event, etc. Here, for example, such a candidateposition fix mode may be provided as part of, and/or as a type of,assistance data 146 in one or more messages, data files, and/or the likeor some combination thereof. In certain instances, for example,assistance data 146 may comprise other information, e.g., electronicmap, a routability graph, a signaling-related probability heatmap orradio map, etc., just to name a few examples. In certain instances,assistance data 146 may be transmitted over indication link 144 tomobile device 102, and/or possibly provided via a computer readablemedium accessible by mobile device 102.

In certain example implementations, a request from mobile device 102 maybe indicative of an initial estimated position fix of mobile device 102(e.g., one or more indications corresponding to: a rough estimate of itsposition, a range or pseudo-range, the last known position fix, anestimated latitude, an estimated longitude, an estimated or possiblymeasured altitude, an estimated nearby node, a currently serving and/orrecently serving cell and/or cellular base station, a user input, etc.),an initial estimated course of mobile device 102 (e.g., one or moreindications corresponding to: a rough estimate of its velocity and/orheading, inertial sensor-based movements, compass readings, etc.). Incertain instances, such an initial estimated position fix and/or initialestimated course of mobile device 102 may be have been determined bymobile device 102 on its own or possibly with assistance from one ormore other electronic devices (e.g., possibly within networks 120/130,etc.).

In certain example implementations, a request from mobile device 102 maybe indicative of one or more initial wireless signal observationsgathered by the mobile device. Here, for example, mobile device 102 maygather one or more initial wireless signal observations (e.g., measuredsignal characteristics, etc.) from its immediate surroundings andinclude some indication thereof within the request for assistance datacomprising candidate position fix mode. As such, an example electronicdevice 140 may consider such initial wireless signal observations, atleast in part, in possibly determining an initial estimated position fixand/or initial estimated course of a mobile device, e.g., knowledge ofwhich may be useful in selecting a more likely useful candidate positionfix mode and/or corresponding region of environment for the mobiledevice. Regardless as to the source of an initial estimated position fixand/or an initial estimated course of mobile device 102, in certainexample implementations, electronic device 140 may select a candidateposition fix mode for a particular mobile device based, at least inpart, on an initial estimated position fix of the mobile device, aninitial estimated course of the mobile device, and/or the like or somecombination thereof.

In certain example implementations, a request from mobile device 102 toelectronic device 140 for assistance data indicative of candidateposition fix models) for particular region(s) may indicate all or partof: a particular identified environment, a particular identifiedstructure, a particular business or entity or service, a particularphysical address, a particular location context identifier (LCI), and/orthe like or some combination thereof. An LCI may represent for example abuilding structure, an entire floor of a particular building, or variouswings of a different building. Some buildings may have a single LCIindexing a single floor plan while other buildings have multiple LCIseach corresponding to a different logical part the building. Thus, incertain instances, in addition to or alternative to indicating aninitial estimated position and/or initial estimated course of the mobiledevice, a request may be indicative of one or more particular targetdestinations. For example, as previously mentioned, it may be beneficialto obtain certain access data in anticipation of visiting a particularenvironment, e.g., airport terminal, office building, etc. In certainimplementations, such a request may be based on a perceived/likelydestination based on one or more positioning functions, aperceived/likely destination based on one or more user inputs and/orpreferences, a perceived/likely destination based certain events (e.g.,scheduled appointments/meetings recorded on electronic calendar, etc.),and/or the like or some combination thereof.

In certain instances, for example, a candidate position fix mode and/orother assistance data may be indicative of one or more (applicable)identified regions of an environment. By way of example, in certaininstances a candidate position fix mode and/or other assistance data maybe indicative of a geo-fence boundary (e.g., map coordinates, distances,etc.) corresponding to at least a portion of at least one identifiedregion of an environment. By way of example, in certain instances aregion may be identified based, at least in part, on one or morestructure feature related identifiers (e.g., identifying a building, aparticular portion and/or floor of a building, a particular room, etc.),a node related identifier (e.g., corresponding to a point or part on amap, a grid or other like pattern of interconnected points or parts, aroutability graph, a probability heatmap or you map, etc.), anenvironment related identifier (e.g., an indoor environment, an outdoorenvironment, a blended environment, an electromagnetically shielded orunshielded environment, a particular business, service or entity relatedenvironment etc.), and/or the like or some combination thereof. Incertain instances, for example a region may be identified based, atleast in part, on a LCI and/or the like, which may correspond to aparticular portion of an environment, etc., and which may be associatedin certain instances with one or more location based services and/or thelike.

In certain example implementations, a candidate position fix mode and/orother assistance data may be indicative of one or more conditionalattributes, which may correspond in some manner to a particularcandidate position fix mode, one or more identified regions, one or moreterrestrial-based transmitting devices (APs 122, TDs 132), one or moresatellite-based transmitting devices (SVs 112), mobile device 102,and/or the like or some combination thereof. For example, a conditionalattribute may indicate that a suggestion to use a particular candidateposition fix mode may be a conditioned based upon a period of time, adate, a day, a time, an atmospheric condition, etc. By way of example,in certain situations a terrestrial-based transmitting device may changeits transmit power level, possibly affecting a mobile device's abilityto acquire wireless signals transmitted by such transmitting device attimes. For example, an operator of a wireless communication network mayreduce a transmit power level of one or more access point devices duringcertain periods of time, e.g. to reduce power usage. In another example,a conditional attribute may indicate that a particular terrestrial-basedand/or satellite-based transmitting device may be off-line forservicing, etc., and hence not transmitting wireless signals duringcertain periods of time.

In another example, one or more conditional attributes may indicatecertain operational and/or security-related aspects that may need to besatisfied and/or verified prior to and/or as part of an exchange ofwireless signals with a mobile device. Here for example, certainwireless communication networks may implement certain security protocolsthat may limit access to one or more of its transmitting devices. In yetanother example, conditional attribute may indicate certain capabilitiesthat may prove necessary or beneficial for mobile device 102 in certainsituations. For example, a conditional attribute may indicate that acandidate position fix mode may prove more (or possibly less) beneficialto a mobile device comprising a particular transmitter and/or receivercapability, antenna gain, etc. Similarly, a conditional attribute mayindicate that a candidate position fix mode may prove more (or possiblyless) beneficial to a mobile device comprising adequate operationalresources, e.g., sufficient processing capability, sufficient memory,sufficient power reserves, etc. In yet another example, one or moreconditional attributes may indicate whether a candidate position fixmode may (or may not) conflict with other possible operational modes ofa mobile device, e.g., an emergency operation mode, an airport mode, areserve power mode, etc.

In certain example implementations, a candidate position fix mode and/orone or more regions of an environment may be selected and/or otherwisedetermined based, at least in part, on a service related identifierand/or the like corresponding to a particular transmitting device and/orits applicable network/service. Hence, in certain instances a firstservice related identifier may correspond to a terrestrial-basedtransmitting device, and based, at least in part, on such identifiercertain aspects associated with the operation of the transmitting deviceand/or its applicable network/service may be determined indooridentifiable and such information may affect selection of candidateposition fix mode and/or a particular region. For example, a firstservice related identifier may distinguish a particularterrestrial-based transmitting device as having a known or determinablelocation and/or operational capability. Similarly, for example, a secondservice related identifier corresponding to a satellite-basedtransmitting device (e.g., SV) and/or its applicable SPS may distinguishsuch SV/SPS is having a known or determinable location and/oroperational capability. Clearly, such distinguishing characteristicsand/or other like identifiable or possibly presumable operationalcharacteristics may be taken into consideration, at least in part, inselecting a candidate position fix mode and/or a corresponding region.

In certain example implementations, a candidate position fix mode and/orone or more regions of an environment may be selected and/or otherwisedetermined based, at least in part, on a mobile device capabilityrelated identifier corresponding to a particular mobile device and/orparticular service apportioned for such mobile device, a particular typeof mobile devices and/or particular types of services apportioned forsuch mobile devices, etc. For example, a mobile device capabilityrelated identifier may be indicative of a type of mobile device, one ormore service providers associated with the mobile device, a user accountassociated with a mobile device, one or more capabilities of the mobiledevice, etc. In certain instances, a mobile device capability relatedidentifier may represent and/or otherwise be taken into consideration asa possible conditional attribute. In certain instances, a mobile devicecapability related identifier may be obtained via a request forassistance data comprising a candidate position fix mode.

Attention is drawn next to FIG. 2, which illustrates at exampleinformation flow 200 between electronic device 140 and mobile device102, as well as between electronic device 140 and one or more othermobile devices 202.

In this example, one or more other mobile devices 202 may at varioustimes transmit one or more messages 204 that may be indicative ofhistorical navigation observations and/or wireless signalingobservations, e.g., with regard to a particular environment. In certainimplementations, messages 204 may represent a crowd-sourcing and/orother like effort, in which a plurality of mobile devices may join in aneffort to assist electronic device 140 in determining applicable regionswithin an environment, and/or one or more candidate position fix modesfor possible beneficial use therein. By way of example, electronicdevice 140 may at example block 208, determine (at least in part) seesone or more regions within an environment, and/or at example block 210determine (at least in part) one or more candidate position fix modes.

In accordance with certain example implementations, a crowd-sourcingand/or other like effort may gather, analyze, model, and/or otherwiseprocess various types of information that may be beneficial inidentifying a particular region and/or candidate position fix mode. Byway of example, in certain instances a crowd-sourcing effort may gatherand/or otherwise consider estimated positions of reporting mobiledevices, successful and/or unsuccessful position fix mode modes of thereporting mobile devices (e.g., a mode identifier, a success or failureidentifier, particular settings, etc.), time information (e.g., date,time a day, etc.), identification of detected transmitting devices(e.g., MAC addresses, etc.), various measurements associated withacquired wireless signals (e.g., signal strength measurements, frequencymeasurements, phase measurements, round trip time measurements, etc.),information transmitted from the transmitting device (e.g., a reportedtransmit power, etc.), and/or the like or some combination thereof. Incertain example implementations, the crowd-sourcing effort may gatherand/or otherwise consider the reported number of visible SVs,signal-to-noise ratios for one or more SV transmitted wireless signals,one or more pseudoranges (e.g., from the mobile device to an SV), one ormore position uncertainty measurements/estimates, etc.

In certain example implementations, a crowd-sourcing effort may provideenough insight to allow for further refinement of a candidate positionfix mode under certain conditions. By way of example in certaininstances a candidate position fix mode may go beyond simplyrecommending a particular wireless signal transmitting device and/or oneor more corresponding network/systems, by further recommending the useof received signal strength indication (RSSI) based positioningtechniques rather than round trip time (RTT) based positioningtechniques, or possibly RTT based positioning techniques rather thanRSSI-based positioning techniques, or possibly even a particularcombination thereof for a particular set of transmitting devices. Inanother example, in certain implementations, a candidate position fixmode may include recommending a particular SPS 110 or particular SVs 112from one or more SPS, e.g. which may be of particular benefit to ahybrid positioning function, e.g., by identifying certain SVs 112, APs122, TDs 132, whose transmitted wireless signals may be quickly acquiredand/or which may provide for improved positioning accuracy as result ofconsidering wireless signals from a set of well distributed (angularly)transmitting devices.

In example information flow 200, mobile device 102 may transmit one ormore messages 206 to electronic device 140 that may be indicative of arequest for assistance data 146 comprising a candidate position fixmode. As previously mentioned, in certain instances, an example requestmay be indicative of an initial estimated position and/or an initialestimated course of mobile device 102. In certain instances, an examplerequest may be indicative of one or more signaling observations, whichmay allow electronic device 140 to estimate, at least in part, aninitial estimated position and/or an initial estimated course of mobiledevice 102. In certain instances, an example request may be indicativeof one or more capabilities and/or other characteristics correspondingto mobile device 102, a user, a service provider, etc.

As previously mentioned, electronic device 140 may, for example atblocks 208/210, determine one or more candidate position fix modes foruse in one or more regions of an environment based, for example, on avariety of factors and/or considerations. As mentioned, certaincandidate position fix modes may be conditionally recommended based oncertain constraints, etc. In certain example implementations, acandidate position fix mode and/or its applicable region may bepredetermined, e.g., based on sufficiently static historicalobservations and/or trusted predictions, possibly for use by all orcertain mobile devices; etc. In certain example implementations, acandidate position fix mode and/or its applicable region may bedynamically determined, e.g., based on timely historical observations,particular information obtained in a request, certain presumptions aboutthe particular mobile device or plurality of mobile devices; possiblyfor use by one or more mobile devices, etc.

It should be noted that in certain instances, mobile device 102 may notnecessarily provide a request to electronic device 140. Instead, incertain instances, electronic device 140 may be tasked with providingassistance data 146 to one or more mobile devices sans a request, e.g.,providing such assistance data 146 from time to time (e.g., possiblyaccording to a schedule, a periodicity, an update cycle, etc.), upon anoccurrence of one or more events (e.g., a change in an identifiedregion, a change in a recommended candidate position fix mode, one ormore conditional reasons, etc.), and/or the like or some combinationthereof.

With this in mind, in example information flow 200 electronic device 140may transmit one or more messages 212 indicative of assistance data 146comprising candidate position fix mode to mobile device 102. Aspreviously mentioned, in certain instances a candidate position fix modemay be indicative of its corresponding region and/or other conditionalinformation corresponding to its potential use. As previously mentioned,in certain instances, assistance data 146 may comprise additionalinformation (e.g., electronic map, etc.) that may be of use to mobiledevice 102, particularly with regard to environment 108.

As illustrated in example information flow 200, at example block 214,mobile device 102 may affect one or more positioning functions based atleast in part, on information obtained in assistance data 146. By way ofexample, apparatus 104 and mobile device 102 may affect a positioningfunction based, at least in part, on a candidate position functionindicated by assistance data 146.

As further illustrated in example information flow 200, in certainexample implementations, mobile device 102 may subsequently transmit oneor more messages 216 to electronic device 140, e.g., to possibly providefeedback regarding all or part of assistance data 146, report certainhistorical navigation observations, report certain wireless signalingobservations, request other assistance data, etc. Consequently, incertain instances, electronic device 140 may affect functionsrepresented by blocks 208/210, which may identify particular regionswithin an environment and determine candidate position function modesfor possible use therein, based on feedback and/or other likeinformation obtained by a message(s) 216. Furthermore, in certainimplementations, in response to one or more messages 216 from mobiledevice 102, electronic device 140 may transmit one or more additionalmessages 212 indicative of one or more newly determined and/or otherrecommended candidate position fix modes, e.g., determined and/orselected based, at least in part, on feedback obtained via message(s)216. In a slightly different variation of implementation design, incertain instances one or more messages 216 comprising feedback and/orother like information may, at times, be considered to represent arequest for new/additional assistance data comprising a candidateposition fix mode, e.g., determined and/or selected based, at least inpart, on the feedback and/or the like information.

Example block 214 may be representative of a positioning function whichmay be performed, at least in part, by mobile device 102 and which maybe affected by apparatus 104, e.g., based on assistance data 146indicative of a candidate position fix mode recommended by electronicdevice 140. In certain example implementations, a positioning functionmay, for example, implement certain mobile device-based positioningtechniques in which processing may be performed by mobile device 102without additional processing support from one or more other electronicdevices. In certain other example implementations, a positioningfunction may, for example, implement certain network-assistedpositioning techniques in which at least a portion of the correspondingprocessing may be performed by one or more other electronic devices.Such positioning techniques are well known and vary in their particulardetails, and are beyond the scope of the present description.

Attention is drawn next to FIG. 3, which is a flow diagram illustratingan example process 300 that may be implemented, in whole or in part, byapparatus 104 and/or example block 214 of representative electronicdevice 140 (e.g. see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). In example process 300, incertain implementations, blocks illustrated using dashed-line boxes maybe optional.

At example block 302, mobile device 102 may transmit a request forassistance data to electronic device 140. As mentioned, in certaininstances a request for assistance data may be indicative of an initialestimated position, an initial estimated course of a mobile device, anexpected and/or otherwise presumed likely route and/or destination,certain characteristics regarding mobile device 102 and/or its user,etc., and/or the like or some combination thereof.

At example block 304, mobile device 102 may obtain assistance dataindicative of the candidate position fix mode for a partial region of anenvironment which may be navigable by the mobile device. In certaininstances, the candidate position fix mode may identify such a partialregion. As mentioned, such a candidate position fix mode may begenerated by electronic device 140. Here, for example, electronic device140 may determine one or more partial regions and/or one or morecandidate position fix modes for recommended use therein by a mobiledevice based on various factors, e.g. possibly relating to a particularmobile device or particular type of mobile device, applicableterrestrial-based and/or satellite-based transmitting devices, variousaspects indoor features/characteristics within environment 108,historical/crowd-sourced feedback/information from various mobiledevices, etc. As previously mentioned, in certain instances a candidateposition fix mode may have been generated and obtained in advance (orwithout ever needing) a request, e.g, as transmitted in example block302. However, in certain instances a candidate fix mode may be generatedby electronic device 140 (and subsequently obtained by mobile device102) in response to, a particular request for assistance data comprisingone or more candidate position fix modes, e.g., as transmitted inexample block 302.

At example block 306, a positioning function that may be performed bymobile device 102 may be affected based, at least in part, on acandidate position fix mode, e.g. as obtained in example block 304. Incertain instances, one or more conditions may need to be satisfiedhigher to affecting a positioning function in example block 306. By wayof example, in certain instances, mobile device 102 may affect apositioning function in example block 306 in response to a determinationthat mobile device 102 is estimated to be located within a thresholdproximity of the partial region corresponding to a candidate positionfix mode, e.g., as in example block 308. Here, for example, a mobiledevice may determine that it is estimated to be located within athreshold proximity of a partial region based, at least in part, onpositioning information obtained via one or more positioning functionsand/or obtained from one or more other electronic devices, movementinformation obtained via one or more onboard inertial and/orenvironmental sensors, user input, one or more particular wirelesssignals being acquired, one or more wireless signaling observations,receiving assistance data (e.g., at block 304), and/or the like or somecombination thereof, just to name a few examples.

Further, as previously mentioned, in certain instances, at example block306, a positioning function may be affected based on one or more variousconditions being satisfied, e.g., a particular period of time, aparticular day/date, etc.

In certain instances, at example block 306, a positioning function maybe affected based on a candidate position fix mode to possibly searchfor certain particular wireless signals, possibly make use of certainparticular wireless signals, make use of certain positioning techniques,etc., e.g., as may be indicated by or inferred from the candidateposition fix mode.

At example block 310, mobile device 102 may transmit a report to anelectronic device indicating certain feedback, e.g., indicating whetheror not a positioning function (as affected at example block 306)succeeded, at least in part, in allowing mobile device 102 tosuccessfully determine a current estimated position fix, currentestimated course, and/or the like.

At example block 312, mobile device 102 may gather and transmithistorical navigation observations, wireless signaling observations,and/or the like or some combination thereof to electronic device 140. Incertain instances, example block 312 may be initiated as part of acrowd-sourcing task and/or the like which may gather informationbeneficial to electronic device 140 in selecting and/or otherwisedetermining candidate position fix modes and/or identifying partialregions corresponding thereto within an environment.

Attention is now drawn to FIG. 4, which is a schematic block diagramillustrating certain features of an example electronic device 140, whichin certain example implementations may comprise a special computingplatform 400, and/or the like with apparatus 142 provisioned therein.

As illustrated electronic device 140 may comprise one or more processingunits 402 (e.g., to perform data processing in accordance with thetechniques provided herein, apparatus 104) coupled to memory 404 via oneor more connections 406 (e.g., one or more electrical conductors, one ormore electrically conductive paths, one or more buses, one or morefiber-optic paths, one or more circuits, one or more buffers, one ormore transmitters, one or more receivers, etc.). Processing unit(s) 402may, for example, be implemented in hardware or a combination ofhardware and software. Processing unit(s) 402 may be representative ofone or more circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of adata computing procedure or process. By way of example but notlimitation, a processing unit may include one or more processors,controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specificintegrated circuits, digital signal processors, programmable logicdevices, field programmable gate arrays, or the like, or any combinationthereof.

Memory 404 may be representative of any data storage mechanism. Memory404 may include, for example, a primary memory 404-1 and/or a secondarymemory 404-2. Primary memory 404-1 may comprise, for example, a randomaccess memory, read only memory, etc. While illustrated in this exampleas being separate from the processing units, it should be understoodthat all or part of a primary memory may be provided within or otherwiseco-located/coupled with processing unit(s) 402, or other like circuitrywithin electronic device 140. Secondary memory 404-2 may comprise, forexample, the same or similar type of memory as primary memory and/or oneor more data storage devices or systems, such as, for example, a diskdrive, an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solid motion state memorydrive, etc

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to, a non-transitorycomputer readable medium 420. Memory 404 and/or non-transitory computerreadable medium 420 may comprise instructions 422 for use in performingdata processing, e.g., in accordance with the applicable techniques asprovided herein.

Electronic device 140 may, for example, further comprise one or morecommunications transceiver(s) 408. Communications transceiver(s) 408may, for example, comprise one or more wired and/or wirelesscommunication interfaces, represented here by one or more receivers 410and one or more transmitters 412. It should be understood that incertain implementations, communications transceiver 408 may comprise oneor more transceivers, and/or the like. Further, it should be understoodthat although not shown, communications transceiver 408 may comprise oneor more antennas and/or other circuitry as may be applicable given thecommunication interface function/capability.

In accordance with certain example implementations, communicationstransceiver(s) 408 may, for example, be enabled for use with variouswired communication networks, e.g., such as telephone system, a localarea network, a wide area network, a personal area network, an intranet,the Internet, etc.

Accordance with certain example implementations communicationstransceiver(s) 408 and/or 508 (see FIG. 5) may, for example, be enabledfor use with various wireless communication networks such as a wirelesswide area network (WWAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), awireless personal area network (WPAN), and so on. The term “network” and“system” may be used interchangeably herein. A WWAN may be a CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA) network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) network, anOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, aSingle-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) network, andso on. A CDMA network may implement one or more radio accesstechnologies (RATs) such as cdma2000, Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA), TimeDivision Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), to namejust a few radio technologies. Here, cdma2000 may include technologiesimplemented according to IS-95, IS-2000, and IS-856 standards. A TDMAnetwork may implement Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D-AMBP capability), or some otherRAT. GSM and W-CDMA are described in documents from a consortium named“3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP). Cdma2000 is described indocuments from a consortium named “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2”(3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2 documents are publicly available. A WLAN mayinclude an IEEE 802.11x network, and a WPAN may include a Bluetoothnetwork, an IEEE 802.15x, for example. Wireless communication networksmay include so-called next generation technologies (e.g., “4G”), suchas, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Advanced LTE, WiMAX, UltraMobile Broadband (UMB), and/or the like. Additionally, communicationstransceiver(s) 408 may further provide for infrared-based communicationswith one or more other devices. A WLAN may, for example, comprise anIEEE 802.11x network, and a WPAN may comprise a Bluetooth network, anIEEE 802.15x, for example. Wireless communication implementationsdescribed herein may also be used in connection with any combination ofWWAN, WLAN or WPAN.

Electronic device 140 may, for example, further comprise one or moreinput/output units 414. Input/output units 414 may represent one or moredevices or other like mechanisms that may be used to obtain inputs fromand/or provide outputs to one or more other devices and/or a user. Thus,for example, input/output units 414 may comprise various buttons,switches, a touch pad, a trackball, a joystick, a touch screen, akeyboard, and/or the like, which may be used to receive one or more userinputs. In certain instances, input/output units 414 may comprisevarious devices that may be used in producing a visual output, anaudible output, and/or a tactile output for a user. For example,input/output units 414 may be used to present a video display, graphicaluser interface, etc., on a display mechanism.

Attention is now drawn to FIG. 5, which is a schematic block diagramillustrating certain features of mobile device 102, which in certainexample implementations may comprise a special computing platform 500,and/or the like with apparatus 104 provisioned therein.

As illustrated mobile device 102 may comprise one or more processingunits 502 (e.g., to perform data processing in accordance with thetechniques provided herein, apparatus 104) coupled to memory 504 via oneor more connections 506 (e.g., one or more electrical conductors, one ormore electrically conductive paths, one or more buses, one or morefiber-optic paths, one or more circuits, one or more buffers, one ormore transmitters, one or more receivers, etc.). Processing unit(s) 502may, for example, be implemented in hardware or a combination ofhardware and software. Processing unit(s) 502 may be representative ofone or more circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of adata computing procedure or process. By way of example but notlimitation, a processing unit may include one or more processors,controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specificintegrated circuits, digital signal processors, programmable logicdevices, field programmable gate arrays, or the like, or any combinationthereof.

Memory 504 may be representative of any data storage mechanism. Memory504 may include, for example, a primary memory 504-1 and/or a secondarymemory 504-2. Primary memory 504-1 may comprise, for example, a randomaccess memory, read only memory, etc. While illustrated in this exampleas being separate from the processing units, it should be understoodthat all or part of a primary memory may be provided within or otherwiseco-located/coupled with processing unit(s) 502, or other like circuitrywithin electronic device 150. Secondary memory 504-2 may comprise, forexample, the same or similar type of memory as primary memory and/or oneor more data storage devices or systems, such as, for example, a diskdrive, an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solid motion state memorydrive, etc

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to, a non-transitorycomputer readable medium 520. Memory 504 and/or non-transitory computerreadable medium 520 may comprise instructions 522 for use in performingdata processing, e.g., in accordance with the applicable techniques asprovided herein.

As previously mentioned, in certain example implementations assistancedata indicative of a recommended candidate position fix mode may beobtained by mobile device 102 by way of one or more computer readablemediums. Thus, by way of example, in certain instances non-transitorycomputer readable medium 520 may represent a computer readable medium,such as, e.g. as non-transitory computer readable medium 420 (FIG. 4),which may be used to transfer certain assistance data from electronicdevice 140 mobile device 102. Such data transfer techniques are wellknown and beyond the scope of the present description.

Mobile device 102 may, for example, further comprise one or morecommunications transceiver 508. Communications transceiver 508 may, forexample, comprise one or more wired and/or wireless communicationinterfaces, represented here by one or more receivers 510 and one ormore transmitters 512. It should be understood that in certainimplementations, communications transceiver 508 may comprise one or moretransceivers, and/or the like. Further, it should be understood thatalthough not shown, communications transceiver 508 may comprise one ormore antennas and/or other circuitry as may be applicable given thecommunication interface function/capability.

In accordance with certain example implementations, communicationstransceiver 508 may, for example, be enabled for use with various wiredcommunication networks, e.g., such as telephone system, a local areanetwork, a wide area network, a personal area network, an intranet, theInternet, etc.

Mobile device 102 may, for example, further comprise one or moreinput/output units 514. Input/output units 514 may represent one or moredevices or other like mechanisms that may be used to obtain inputs fromand/or provide outputs to one or more other devices and/or a user. Thus,for example, input/output units 514 may comprise various buttons,switches, a touch pad, a trackball, a joystick, a touch screen, akeyboard, a microphone, a camera, and/or the like, which may be used toreceive one or more user inputs. In certain instances, input/outputunits 514 may comprise various devices that may be used in producing avisual output, an audible output, and/or a tactile output for a user.For example, input/output units 514 may be used to present a videodisplay, graphical user interface, positioning and/or navigation relatedinformation, visual representations of electronic map, routingdirections, etc., via a display mechanism and/or audio mechanism.

Mobile device 102 may, for example, comprise one or more sensors 516.For example, sensor(s) 516 may represent one or more inertial sensors,one or more environmental sensors, etc., which may be useful indetecting aspects of the environment 108 and/or movements of mobiledevice 102 therein. Thus for example, sensor(s) 516 may comprise one ormore accelerometers, one or one or more gyroscopes or gyrometers, one ormore magnetometers and/or the like, one or more barometers, one or morethermometers, etc. Further, in certain instances sensor(s) 516 maycomprise one or more input devices such as a microphone, a camera, alight sensor, etc.

SPS receiver 518 may be capable of acquiring and acquiring wirelesssignals 114 via one or more antennas (not shown). SPS receiver 518 mayalso process, in whole or in part, acquired wireless signals 114 forestimating a position and/or a motion of mobile device 102. In certaininstances, SPS receiver 518 may comprise one or more processing unit(s)(not shown), e.g., one or more general purpose processors, one or moredigital signal processors DSP(s), one or more specialized processorsthat may also be utilized to process acquired SPS signals, in whole orin part, and/or calculate an estimated location of mobile device 102. Incertain implementations, all or part of such processing of acquired SPSsignals may be performed by other processing capabilities in mobiledevice 102, e.g., processing unit(s) 502, memory 504, etc., inconjunction with SPS receiver 518. Storage of SPS or other signals foruse in performing positioning operations may be performed in memory 504or registers (not shown).

Sensors five and six may generate analog or digital signals that may bestored in memory 504 and processed by DPS(s) (not shown) or processingunit(s) 502 in support of one or more applications such as, for example,applications directed to positioning or navigation operations based, atleast in part, on one or more positioning functions.

Processing unit(s) 502 may comprise a dedicated modem processor or thelike that may be capable of performing baseband processing of signalsacquired and downconverted at receiver(s) 510 of communicationstransceiver 508 or SPS receiver 509. Similarly, a modem processor or thelike may perform baseband processing of signals to be upconverted fortransmission by (wireless) transmitter(s) 512. In alternativeimplementations, instead of having a dedicated modem processor, basebandprocessing may be performed by a general purpose processor or DSP (e.g.,general purpose/application processor). It should be understood,however, that these are merely examples of structures that may performbaseband processing, and that claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect. Moreover, it should be understood that the exampletechniques provided herein may be adapted for a variety of differentelectronic devices, mobile devices, transmitting devices, environments,position fix modes, etc.

As illustrated in various examples provided herein, in certain exampleimplementations assistance data may be further indicative of one or morecandidate position fix modes for one or more regions of an environmentnavigable by a mobile device. In certain instances, assistance data maycomprise an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of anenvironment. Here, for example, electronic map may comprise aroutability graph, a presentation map, a radio heatmap, and/or the like,or some combination thereof. In certain instances, assistance data may,for example, comprise one or more annotation files in/or the like whichmay correspond to at least a portion of an electronic map. In certainexample implementations, a candidate position fix mode may, for example,correspond to one or more positioning nodes that may be identifiablewithin an electronic map. In certain instances, assistance data may, forexample, indicate a particular candidate position fix mode via anidentifier which may be assigned to such a candidate position fix mode.

By way of still further example, let us consider an example instancewherein a mobile device provides onboard positioning and that the mobiledevice is inside a building. In this case, a positioning engine and/orthe like provisioned in the mobile device may, for example, use WiFiRSSI and range measurements in a Particle Filter once a likely floor ofthe building has been chosen. Here, for example, an electronic map maycomprise a grid with nodes at intersecting lines, e.g., such that thenodes spaced apart by some distance (note that in certain otherimplementations, notes may be provided which are not necessarilyuniformly spaced from one another). Further, let us assume that a likelyaltitude of the floor may be known. An RSSI and range heatmaps may, forexample, specify a mean value and standard deviation at each node and apositioning function may calculate a measurement likelihood, e.g., basedon a difference function between expected and received measurements. IfSPS is to be added to such example implementation, at each node, anexpected range may be calculated since satellite positions are known orotherwise determinable. As such, expected ranges may be compared tomeasured pseudoranges, e.g., to determine measurement likelihoods. Aclock offset between the mobile device and an SV may also be tracked.Assistance data may, for example, be requested and obtained by themobile device once the mobile device decides on a likely LCI or floor.In certain instances, such assistance data may comprise heatmaps and/orthe like for applicable transmitting devices, a presentation map, aroutability graph, etc. If SPS is added to be considered, suchassistance data may indicate a particular candidate position fix mode inone or more of such electronic maps, one or more annotation files, etc.In certain instances, a candidate position fix mode may be specified ona node per node basis, or possibly a group of nodes basis, etc. Forexample, in certain instances a candidate position fix mode may indicatethat for a first node, or possibly a first group are set of nodes, etc.,that a WiFi only position fix mode is recommended, and that for a secondnode, or possibly second group are set of nodes, etc., that a blendedmode, e.g., possibly a WiFi/GNSS position fix mode may be recommended.Indeed, in certain instances, an identifier may be provided on a nodeper node, group of node, etc., basis to indicate a candidate positionfix mode as recommended by an external electronic device. For example,in certain instances a certain number of bits, or other like indicators,may be reserved, provided, added, annotated, etc., in one or moreelectronic maps and/or the like to indicate a candidate position fixmode on a node per node, group of nodes, identifiable partial region,etc. For example, a three bit indicator may be applied to a node toindicate various candidate position fix modes, e.g. such as, a WiFi RSSIonly, a Wifi RSSI+RTT, a WiFi RTT+GNSS RTT, and so on, just to name afew examples.

The techniques described herein may be implemented by various meansdepending upon applications according to particular features and/orexamples. For example, such methodologies may be implemented inhardware, firmware, and/or combinations thereof, along with software. Ina hardware implementation, for example, a processing unit may beimplemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processingdevices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,microprocessors, electronic devices, other devices units designed toperform the functions described herein, and/or combinations thereof.

In the preceding detailed description, numerous specific details havebeen set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subjectmatter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatclaimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, methods and apparatuses that would be known by oneof ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscureclaimed subject matter.

Some portions of the preceding detailed description have been presentedin terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations onbinary digital electronic signals stored within a memory of a specificapparatus or special purpose computing device or platform. In thecontext of this particular specification, the term specific apparatus orthe like includes a general purpose computer once it is programmed toperform particular functions pursuant to instructions from programsoftware. Algorithmic descriptions or symbolic representations areexamples of techniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signalprocessing or related arts to convey the substance of their work toothers skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, isconsidered to be a self-consistent sequence of operations or similarsignal processing leading to a desired result. In this context,operations or processing involve physical manipulation of physicalquantities. Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities maytake the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated as electronicsignals representing information. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signals asbits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,numerals, information, or the like. It should be understood, however,that all of these or similar terms are to be associated with appropriatephysical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unlessspecifically motion stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussion, it is appreciated that throughout this specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing”, “computing”,“calculating”, “determining”, “generating”, “obtaining”, “modifying”,“selecting”, “identifying”, and/or the like refer to actions orprocesses of a specific apparatus, such as a special purpose computer ora similar special purpose electronic computing device. In the context ofthis specification, therefore, a special purpose computer or a similarspecial purpose electronic computing device is capable of manipulatingor transforming signals, typically represented as physical electronic ormagnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other informationstorage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of the specialpurpose computer or similar special purpose electronic computing device.In the context of this particular patent application, the term “specificapparatus” may include a general purpose computer once it is programmedto perform particular functions pursuant to instructions from programsoftware.

The terms, “and”, “or”, and “and/or” as used herein may include avariety of meanings that also are expected to depend at least in partupon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if usedto associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C,here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in theexclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein maybe used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in thesingular or may be used to describe a plurality or some othercombination of features, structures or characteristics. Though, itshould be noted that this is merely an illustrative example and claimedsubject matter is not limited to this example.

While there has been illustrated and described what are presentlyconsidered to be example features, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, andequivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subjectmatter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter withoutdeparting from the central concept described herein.

Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited tothe particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject mattermay also include all aspects falling within the scope of appendedclaims, and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising, with a mobile device:obtaining assistance data from at least one other electronic device,said assistance data being indicative of a candidate position fix modefor a partial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device,said candidate position fix mode being selected from a plurality ofwireless signal-based positioning modes comprising at least: a firstwireless signal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signalstransmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device, a secondwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wirelesssignals transmitted a satellite-based transmitting device, and a thirdwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of saidfirst wireless signals and said second wireless signals; and affecting awireless signal-based positioning function based, at least in part, onsaid candidate position fix mode, in response to a determination thatsaid mobile device is estimated to be located within a thresholdproximity of said partial region.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein said assistance data is further indicative of at least one othercandidate position fix mode for at least one other partial region ofsaid environment navigable by said mobile device.
 3. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein said assistance data comprises at least oneof: an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of saidenvironment; and/or an annotation file corresponding to at least aportion of said electronic map.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to one or morepositioning nodes identifiable within an electronic map corresponding tosaid environment.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein saidassistance data indicates said candidate position fix mode via anidentifier assigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-basedpositioning modes.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1, and furthercomprising with said mobile device: transmitting a request for saidassistance data comprising said candidate position fix mode.
 7. Themethod as recited in claim 6, wherein said request is indicative of atleast one of: an initial estimated position fix of said mobile device,and/or an initial estimated course of said mobile device.
 8. The methodas recited in claim 6, wherein said request is indicative of at leastone wireless signal observation gathered by said mobile device.
 9. Themethod as recited in claim 6, wherein said request is indicative of amobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobiledevice.
 10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said candidateposition fix mode is indicative of said partial region.
 11. The methodas recited in claim 10, wherein said candidate position fix mode isindicative of a geo-fence boundary corresponding to at least a portionof said partial region.
 12. The method as recited in claim 10, whereinsaid candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial regionwith regard to an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion ofsaid environment.
 13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein saidcandidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region withregard to at least one of: a structure feature related identifier, anode related identifier, an environment related identifier, and/or alocation context identifier (LCI).
 14. The method as recited in claim10, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of saidpartial region with regard to at least one of: a first service relatedidentifier corresponding to said terrestrial-based transmitting device,a second service related identifier corresponding to saidsatellite-based transmitting device, and/or a mobile device capabilityrelated identifier corresponding to said mobile device.
 15. The methodas recited in claim 1, wherein said candidate position fix mode isindicative of a conditional attribute corresponding to at least one of:said candidate position fix mode, said partial region, saidterrestrial-based transmitting device, said satellite-based transmittingdevice, and/or said mobile device.
 16. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein said partial region has been identified based, at least in part,on at least one of historical navigation observations, and/or wirelesssignal observations corresponding to a plurality of mobile devices withregard to said environment.
 17. The method as recited in claim 1, andfurther comprising, with said mobile device: gathering at least one of:historical navigation observations, and/or wireless signal observations;and, transmitting at least one of: said historical navigationobservations, and/or said wireless signal observations to said at leastone other electronic device.
 18. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein said assistance data is indicative of at least one of: aninitial estimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or an initialestimated course of said mobile device.
 19. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein said assistance data is indicative of saiddetermination that said mobile device is estimated to be located withinsaid threshold proximity of said partial region.
 20. The method asrecited in claim 1, and further comprising, with said mobile device:subsequent to affecting said wireless signal-based positioning functionbased, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode,transmitting a report to said at least one other electronic device, saidreport being indicative as to whether, as affected, said wirelesssignal-based positioning function successfully determines at least oneof: a current estimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or acurrent estimated course of said mobile device.
 21. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said environmentcomprises a blended environment, and said blended environment comprisessaid partial region.
 22. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein saidterrestrial-based transmitting device comprises an access point deviceof a wireless communication network; and/or said satellite-basedtransmitting device is part of a space positioning system (SPS).
 23. Amobile device comprising: a communications transceiver; and a processingunit to: obtain, via said communications transceiver, assistance dataindicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of anenvironment navigable by said mobile device, said candidate position fixmode being selected from a plurality of wireless signal-basedpositioning modes comprising at least: a first wireless signal-basedpositioning mode based on first wireless signals transmitted by aterrestrial-based transmitting device, a second wireless signal-basedpositioning mode based on a second wireless signals transmitted asatellite-based transmitting device, and a third wireless signal-basedpositioning mode based on a combination of said first wireless signalsand said second wireless signals; and in response to a determinationthat said mobile device is estimated to be located within a thresholdproximity of said partial region, affect a positioning function based,at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode.
 24. The mobiledevice as recited in claim 23, wherein said assistance data is furtherindicative of at least one other candidate position fix mode for atleast one other partial region of said environment navigable by saidmobile device.
 25. The mobile device as recited in claim 23, whereinsaid assistance data comprises at least one of: an electronic mapcorresponding to at least a portion of said environment; and/or anannotation file corresponding to at least a portion of said electronicmap.
 26. The mobile device as recited in claim 23, wherein saidcandidate position fix mode corresponds to one or more positioning nodesidentifiable within an electronic map corresponding to said environment.27. The mobile device as recited in claim 23, wherein said assistancedata indicates said candidate position fix mode via an identifierassigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-based positioningmodes.
 28. The mobile device as recited in claim 23, said processingunit to further: initiate transmission of a request for said assistancedata comprising said candidate position fix mode to at least one otherelectronic device via said communications transceiver.
 29. The mobiledevice as recited in claim 28, wherein said request is indicative of atleast one of: an initial estimated position fix of said mobile device,and/or an initial estimated course of said mobile device.
 30. The mobiledevice as recited in claim 28, wherein said request is indicative of atleast one wireless signal observation gathered by said mobile device.31. The mobile device as recited in claim 28, wherein said request isindicative of a mobile device capability related identifiercorresponding to said mobile device.
 32. The mobile device as recited inclaim 23, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of saidpartial region.
 33. The mobile device as recited in claim 32, whereinsaid candidate position fix mode is indicative of a geo-fence boundarycorresponding to at least a portion of said partial region.
 34. Themobile device as recited in claim 32, wherein said candidate positionfix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to anelectronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment.35. The mobile device as recited in claim 32, wherein said candidateposition fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to atleast one of: a structure feature related identifier, a node relatedidentifier, an environment related identifier, and/or a location contextidentifier (LCI).
 36. The mobile device as recited in claim 32, whereinsaid candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial regionwith regard to at least one of: a first service related identifiercorresponding to said terrestrial-based transmitting device, a secondservice related identifier corresponding to said satellite-basedtransmitting device, and/or a mobile device capability relatedidentifier corresponding to said mobile device.
 37. The mobile device asrecited in claim 23, wherein said candidate position fix mode isindicative of a conditional attribute corresponding to at least one of:said candidate position fix mode, said partial region, saidterrestrial-based transmitting device, said satellite-based transmittingdevice, and/or said mobile device.
 38. The mobile device as recited inclaim 23, wherein said partial region has been identified based, atleast in part, on at least one of historical navigation observations,and/or wireless signal observations corresponding to a plurality ofmobile devices with regard to said environment.
 39. The mobile device asrecited in claim 23, said processing unit to further: gather at leastone of: historical navigation observations, and/or wireless signalobservations; and, initiate transmission of at least one of: saidhistorical navigation observations, and/or said wireless signalobservations to at least one other electronic device via saidcommunications transceiver.
 40. The mobile device as recited in claim23, wherein said assistance data is indicative of at least one of: aninitial estimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or an initialestimated course of said mobile device.
 41. The mobile device as recitedin claim 23, wherein said assistance data is indicative of saiddetermination that said mobile device is estimated to be located withinsaid threshold proximity of said partial region.
 42. The mobile deviceas recited in claim 23, said processing unit to further: subsequent tosaid wireless signal-based positioning function being affected based, atleast in part, on said candidate position fix mode, initiatetransmission of a report to at least one other electronic device viasaid communications transceiver, said report being indicative as towhether, as affected, said wireless signal-based positioning functionsuccessfully determines at least one of: a current estimated positionfix of said mobile device, and/or a current estimated course of saidmobile device.
 43. The mobile device as recited in claim 23, wherein atleast a portion of said environment comprises a blended environment, andsaid blended environment comprises said partial region.
 44. The mobiledevice as recited in claim 23, wherein said terrestrial-basedtransmitting device comprises an access point device of a wirelesscommunication network; and/or said satellite-based transmitting deviceis part of a space positioning system (SPS).
 45. An apparatus for use ina mobile device, the apparatus comprising: means for accessingassistance data indicative of a candidate position fix mode for apartial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device, saidcandidate position fix mode being selected from a plurality of wirelesssignal-based positioning modes comprising at least: a first wirelesssignal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signalstransmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device, a secondwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wirelesssignals transmitted a satellite-based transmitting device, and a thirdwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of saidfirst wireless signals and said second wireless signals; and means foraffecting a wireless signal-based positioning function, based, at leastin part, on said candidate position fix mode, in response to adetermination that said mobile device is estimated to be located withina threshold proximity of said partial region.
 46. The apparatus asrecited in claim 45, wherein said assistance data is further indicativeof at least one other candidate position fix mode for at least one otherpartial region of said environment navigable by said mobile device. 47.The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said assistance datacomprises at least one of: an electronic map corresponding to at least aportion of said environment; and/or an annotation file corresponding toat least a portion of said electronic map.
 48. The apparatus as recitedin claim 45, wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to oneor more positioning nodes identifiable within an electronic mapcorresponding to said environment.
 49. The apparatus as recited in claim45, wherein said assistance data indicates said candidate position fixmode via an identifier assigned to one of said plurality of wirelesssignal-based positioning modes.
 50. The apparatus as recited in claim45, and further comprising with said mobile device: means fortransmitting a request for said assistance data comprising saidcandidate position fix mode.
 51. The apparatus as recited in claim 50,wherein said request is indicative of at least one of: an initialestimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or an initialestimated course of said mobile device.
 52. The apparatus as recited inclaim 50, wherein said request is indicative of at least one wirelesssignal observation gathered by said mobile device.
 53. The apparatus asrecited in claim 50, wherein said request is indicative of a mobiledevice capability related identifier corresponding to said mobiledevice.
 54. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said candidateposition fix mode is indicative of said partial region.
 55. Theapparatus as recited in claim 54, wherein said candidate position fixmode is indicative of a geo-fence boundary corresponding to at least aportion of said partial region.
 56. The apparatus as recited in claim54, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of saidpartial region with regard to an electronic map corresponding to atleast a portion of said environment.
 57. The apparatus as recited inclaim 54, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of saidpartial region with regard to at least one of: a structure featurerelated identifier, a node related identifier, an environment relatedidentifier, and/or a location context identifier (LCI).
 58. Theapparatus as recited in claim 54, wherein said candidate position fixmode is indicative of said partial region with regard to at least oneof: a first service related identifier corresponding to saidterrestrial-based transmitting device, a second service relatedidentifier corresponding to said satellite-based transmitting device,and/or a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding tosaid mobile device.
 59. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, whereinsaid candidate position fix mode is indicative of a conditionalattribute corresponding to at least one of: said candidate position fixmode, said partial region, said terrestrial-based transmitting device,said satellite-based transmitting device, and/or said mobile device. 60.The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said partial region hasbeen identified based, at least in part, on at least one of historicalnavigation observations, and/or wireless signal observationscorresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regard to saidenvironment.
 61. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, and furthercomprising: means for gathering at least one of: historical navigationobservations, and/or wireless signal observations; and, means fortransmitting at least one of: said historical navigation observations,and/or said wireless signal observations to at least one otherelectronic device.
 62. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, whereinsaid assistance data is indicative of at least one of: an initialestimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or an initialestimated course of said mobile device.
 63. The apparatus as recited inclaim 45, wherein said assistance data is indicative of saiddetermination that said mobile device is estimated to be located withinsaid threshold proximity of said partial region.
 64. The apparatus asrecited in claim 45, and further comprising: means for transmitting areport to at least one other electronic device subsequent to saidwireless signal-based positioning function being affected based, atleast in part, on said candidate position fix mode, wherein said reportis indicative as to whether, as affected, said wireless signal-basedpositioning function successfully determines at least one of: a currentestimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or a current estimatedcourse of said mobile device.
 65. The apparatus as recited in claim 45,wherein at least a portion of said environment comprises a blendedenvironment, and said blended environment comprises said partial region.66. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said terrestrial-basedtransmitting device comprises an access point device of a wirelesscommunication network; and/or said satellite-based transmitting deviceis part of a space positioning system (SPS).
 67. An article comprising:a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementableinstructions executable by a processing unit of a mobile device to:obtain assistance data indicative of a candidate position fix mode for apartial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device, saidcandidate position fix mode being selected from a plurality of wirelesssignal-based positioning modes comprising at least: a first wirelesssignal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signalstransmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device, a secondwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wirelesssignals transmitted a satellite-based transmitting device, and a thirdwireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of saidfirst wireless signals and said second wireless signals; and in responseto a determination that said mobile device is estimated to be locatedwithin a threshold proximity of said partial region, affect a wirelesssignal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on saidcandidate position fix mode.
 68. The article as recited in claim 67,wherein said assistance data is further indicative of at least one othercandidate position fix mode for at least one other partial region ofsaid environment navigable by said mobile device.
 69. The article asrecited in claim 67, wherein said assistance data comprises at least oneof: an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of saidenvironment; and/or an annotation file corresponding to at least aportion of said electronic map.
 70. The article as recited in claim 67,wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to one or morepositioning nodes identifiable within an electronic map corresponding tosaid environment.
 71. The article as recited in claim 67, wherein saidassistance data indicates said candidate position fix mode via anidentifier assigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-basedpositioning modes.
 72. The article as recited in claim 67, furthercomprising computer implementable instructions to: initiate transmissionof a request for said assistance data comprising said candidate positionfix mode.
 73. The article as recited in claim 72, wherein said requestis indicative of at least one of: an initial estimated position fix ofsaid mobile device, and/or an initial estimated course of said mobiledevice.
 74. The article as recited in claim 72, wherein said request isindicative of at least one wireless signal observation gathered by saidmobile device.
 75. The article as recited in claim 72, wherein saidrequest is indicative of a mobile device capability related identifiercorresponding to said mobile device.
 76. The article as recited in claim67, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of saidpartial region.
 77. The article as recited in claim 76, wherein saidcandidate position fix mode is indicative of a geo-fence boundarycorresponding to at least a portion of said partial region.
 78. Thearticle as recited in claim 76, wherein said candidate position fix modeis indicative of said partial region with regard to an electronic mapcorresponding to at least a portion of said environment.
 79. The articleas recited in claim 76, wherein said candidate position fix mode isindicative of said partial region with regard to at least one of: astructure feature related identifier, a node related identifier, anenvironment related identifier, and/or a location context identifier(LCI).
 80. The article as recited in claim 76, wherein said candidateposition fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to atleast one of: a first service related identifier corresponding to saidterrestrial-based transmitting device, a second service relatedidentifier corresponding to said satellite-based transmitting device,and/or a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding tosaid mobile device.
 81. The article as recited in claim 67, wherein saidcandidate position fix mode is indicative of a conditional attributecorresponding to at least one of: said candidate position fix mode, saidpartial region, said terrestrial-based transmitting device, saidsatellite-based transmitting device, and/or said mobile device.
 82. Thearticle as recited in claim 67, wherein said partial region has beenidentified based, at least in part, on at least one of historicalnavigation observations, and/or wireless signal observationscorresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regard to saidenvironment.
 83. The article as recited in claim 67, further comprisingcomputer implementable instructions to: gather at least one of:historical navigation observations, and/or wireless signal observations;and, initiate transmission of at least one of: said historicalnavigation observations, and/or said wireless signal observations to atleast one other electronic device.
 84. The article as recited in claim67, wherein said assistance data is indicative of at least one of: aninitial estimated position fix of said mobile device, and/or an initialestimated course of said mobile device.
 85. The article as recited inclaim 67, wherein said assistance data is indicative of saiddetermination that said mobile device is estimated to be located withinsaid threshold proximity of said partial region.
 86. The article asrecited in claim 67, further comprising computer implementableinstructions to: subsequent to said wireless signal-based positioningfunction being affected based, at least in part, on said candidateposition fix mode, initiate transmission of a report to at least oneother electronic device, said report being indicative as to whether, asaffected, said wireless signal-based positioning function successfullydetermines at least one of: a current estimated position fix of saidmobile device, and/or a current estimated course of said mobile device.87. The article as recited in claim 67, wherein at least a portion ofsaid environment comprises a blended environment, and said blendedenvironment comprises said partial region.
 88. The article as recited inclaim 67, wherein said terrestrial-based transmitting device comprisesan access point device of a wireless communication network; and/or saidsatellite-based transmitting device is part of a space positioningsystem (SPS).